SMMT consults on proposals aimed at improving air quality in London

New political leaders are starting to make their mark on the automotive landscape.  The new Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has just launched a consultation on air quality in the capital.

The proposals include a significant increase in the congestion charge, bringing forward the implementation of the ULEZ by one year and a geographical extension, London-wide for trucks, buses and coaches. The plan also includes bringing forward the requirement for all double-decker buses to be ULEZ-compliant in central London from 2020 to 2019, as well as implementing clean bus corridors.

Perhaps the most radical proposal is to develop a detailed structure for a national diesel scrappage scheme for the government to implement. It remains to be seen how far this will progress, but it indicates how seriously policy makers now take air quality.

The automotive industry is continuing to invest in order to give consumers, vehicle operators and public authorities ever greater choice of safer, cleaner and lower carbon vehicles to suit their needs, and is committed to working in partnership with government at all levels to ensure technology and policy work hand in hand to improve air quality for all of us.

SMMT is to consult its members and develop a response to the consultation, which can be accessed on the London.gov.uk website and is in survey format. The deadline for responses is 29 July 2016.